Supervisors To Meet In Closed Session After Lawsuit Is Filed Against Patrick Jones’ Gun Range Plans

During Tuesday’s Shasta County Supervisors Meeting, the board will discuss in closed session a lawsuit filed by Millville Plains residents opposing the construction of a shooting range by Supervisor Patrick Jones. The 152 acres on Leopard Drive would feature long-range rifle firing lines, handgun bays, and clay target shooting ranges. There would also be several large buildings. Jones would want to operate the club 5 days a week from 8AM to 8PM and hold up to 14 events a year with hundreds of people shooting. It would also allow overnight RV camping. When the vote came up for a zoning change in October, Jones recused himself, Mary Rickert voted against, Kevin Crye and Chris Kelstrom voted in favor and Tim Garmin stated plainly that he doesn’t like Patrick Jones, but he said he evaluated the merits of the project, and he threw his swing vote in favor. Some of the neighbors had warned that the next setting will be in a court of law, saying the facility will shatter the peaceful solitude of their homes. There are also concerns about environmental degradation from the range, which runs along Bear Creek. The county is now named in a suit along with Jones.

-Steve Gibson